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A Wild Day

Posted Jul 4, 2012
by Aaron Portzline
| 0 comments

The Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild came into the NHL together, expansion franchises born in time for the 2000-01 season. But while the Wild today is celebrating two major free agent coups -- forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter were signed to 13-year contracts -- the Blue Jackets are trying to unload captain Rick Nash, the only franchise player to ever wear their sweater.

How do these signings, especially Parise's, impact the Blue Jackets efforts to trade Nash?

Well, it doesn't create a bidding war between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, two bitter Eastern Concference rivals who have tried to pry Nash away from the Blue Jackets without giving up any proven NHL players or high-end prospects. If one of them had landed Parise -- the Flyers made an offer, not the Rangers -- it could have gotten interesting. Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson was banking on that.

One team today's news could spur into action is the Detroit Red Wings.

The Wings made contract offers to both Parise and Suter, looking to inject their aging roster with some high-end players in their prime. Detroit could always turn to free agent Alexander Semin, formerly of the Washington Capitals. If anybody could make Semin a responsible, reliable, motivated player, it could be the Wings. (One year deal just in case, right?)

It appears the Wings would prefer Nash, and it's been reported in this space the Blue Jackets would be willing to trade their franchise player to their should-be Central Division rival. But it's unclear what the Red Wings have to offer in terms of immediate NHL help for the Jackets. They have prospects (defenseman Brendan Smith, forwards Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar) who could be ready very soon, especially considering the Blue Jackets' forward ranks.

The Dispatch today confirmed that the Pittsburgh Penguins are on Nash's approved list and have been from the start. The list, then, as we know it: Detroit, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Jose. This is the same list Nash presented the Blue Jackets last winter, but there have been hints lately of a willingness on Nash's part to expand it, perhaps for Carolina.

To our knowledge, Nash does not have any of the seven Canadian franchises on his list.

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